Jesus said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed…nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 Faith, guided by the Holy Spirit, simply latches onto something God wants to do and joins us with Him in it. There are no “great men and women of God.” There are ordinary people who trust completely in an extraordinary God. What He can then produce through them is great indeed. King David said, “Your gentleness has made me great.” The kindness, forgiveness and longsuffering of God led David into a position of greatness though David knew himself as only a man. The centurion’s servant was healed as he exhibited great faith in what only Jesus could do, and Jesus said of this: “Truly I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Matthew 8:10.

We all can agree that exercise is essential for our physical health, and that prayer is necessary for our spiritual health. Both of these activities are very effective at relieving stress and enhancing our mental health. Time management experts suggest that we combine our activities to make best use of our limited time. If there is one thing we have less of, it's time. The Somerset County National Day of Prayer Committee recommends that you exercise your faith, and prepare yourself for the upcoming observation of our "National Day of Prayer" on Thursday, May 3. The theme of this year's NDOP is "One Nation Under God. " Let's all go "Prayer Walking.

Ever cook a tasteless meal? Or buy a car you just didn’t like? This is the picture in Isaiah 44:12. A man is smelting iron, then forming, pounding, and shaping it with all his life’s energies. But when he is finished, he finds himself worn out, hungry and alone. If he would hug his creation, he would find it cold and unyielding. What a dismal picture for those who would build their lives around their own energies and talents rather than the Creator of all things. This even occurs in Christian service.

Lazarus was ill and his sisters sent word to Jesus asking him to come and help him. When Jesus got the word that Lazarus was seriously ill, he paused for a moment and then he said, "No, Lazarus is not ill, he is dead. " Jesus did not pretend. He did not pretend that Lazarus was not dead. Jesus was probably the most realistic person who ever lived. But the fact that Lazarus had died was not the final word. The final fact was that Jesus had the faith Lazarus could be brought back to life.

This is in response to Beverly Reese's Letter to the Editor on May 25, 2013. First let me express my deepest sympathy for your losses in the past six months. I can't, nor can anyone else, tell you "I know how you feel. " We can't. We never will. Even if our losses are the same, the feelings and emotions that each person goes through during these trying times are different, personal . . . individual. My sister had five miscarriages before she gave birth to full-term beautiful little Mary Elizabeth back in 1967.

There are a couple of ways we can approach religion. We can ask, and many do, "How can I believe in anything as seemingly impossible as everlasting life?" Or, we can ask, "What is there in my life that is worth preserving forever?" If we take the first approach I don't think we will ever come to a satisfactory answer. We don't prove religion by coldly examining the facts, just as we can't and don't prove something like love in that manner. History proves without a doubt many things recorded in the Bible.

When the subject of faith comes up during Sunday school or at study group, there is usually a lot of discussion. For Christians faith basically is based on our belief on the work and teachings of Jesus Christ. Faith leads to an active life aligned with the ideals and the example of the life of Jesus. Faith sees the mystery of God and his grace and seeks to know and be obedient to God. Faith is not static. It causes us to want to learn more about God and grow in him. An important part of faith is this growing process.

"If ye have the faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. " We all know a mustard seed is very, very small. What is Jesus saying here? If we have just a very little faith we can do great things? I have thought a lot about this passage of Scripture. I don't pretend to understand it fully. I do know, however, I have not moved any mountains lately. Jesus was speaking in poetic language when he said this.

When Timotheus Pope is walking down the streets talking to children in Richmond, Va., or Baltimore, Md., he often shares space with drug dealers and others selling an escape from reality. When he sees billboards, televisions and movies filled with advertising selling a life of buying things, name brands, of acquisition and style without substance billed as the American Dream he is equally as troubled. Pope is preaching and proselytizing reality himself as a Christian minister running the Citikidz program at the Jennerstown-based Summer’s Best 2 Weeks.

This is in response to Beverly Reese's Letter to the Editor on May 25, 2013. First let me express my deepest sympathy for your losses in the past six months. I can't, nor can anyone else, tell you "I know how you feel. " We can't. We never will. Even if our losses are the same, the feelings and emotions that each person goes through during these trying times are different, personal . . . individual. My sister had five miscarriages before she gave birth to full-term beautiful little Mary Elizabeth back in 1967.

Little Johnny climbs up on the brick porch railing and stands there watching his father who stands on the lawn below. Suddenly his father throws his hands in the air toward Johnny. A big grin lights up the face of the boy. The youngster then throws himself off the railing and into his father's waiting arms below. As soon as his feet touch the ground Johnny runs back up on the porch, climbs on the railing and waits for his father's signal for him to jump again. We all have faith and we all have fears.

In this wonderful Easter Season we have celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. In His resurrection lays the promise to all believers that our sins have truly been forgiven by God, we are possessors of Eternal Life and have a home awaiting us in heaven. Even our bodies will be glorified, as Jesus' was, so that we never have sickness, aging, pain or death to deal with again. In our new home we will be fit to enjoy all the treasures of being with Jesus, being actually sinless, no presence of Satan, no fear of death.

"Be of good cheer," Jesus said. To a man struggling with a paralysis he said, "Be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee. " To the disciples being tossed about on a boiling sea, he said, "Be of good cheer. It is I. Be not afraid. " Troubles are nothing new. They were here before you and I made our appearance and they will be here long after we are gone. Jesus had this prescription for people who found themselves in difficult situations. To people of every age and condition who were facing troubles he said, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Since 2002, I myself and other family members of my son, (Flight 93) Copilot LeRoy W. Homer Jr. have become quite close to Bishop Al Mascherino. With the mind of an intellectual, the will of a warrior, and the trust of an honorable man, he had built this beautiful Chapel with very little money, but with the faith in God and in the friends of this Community, who had worked and sacrificed until this wonderful, little Chapel had been completed....

Lazarus was ill and his sisters sent word to Jesus asking him to come and help him. When Jesus got the word that Lazarus was seriously ill, he paused for a moment and then he said, "No, Lazarus is not ill, he is dead. " Jesus did not pretend. He did not pretend that Lazarus was not dead. Jesus was probably the most realistic person who ever lived. But the fact that Lazarus had died was not the final word. The final fact was that Jesus had the faith Lazarus could be brought back to life.

When the subject of faith comes up during Sunday school or at study group, there is usually a lot of discussion. For Christians faith basically is based on our belief on the work and teachings of Jesus Christ. Faith leads to an active life aligned with the ideals and the example of the life of Jesus. Faith sees the mystery of God and his grace and seeks to know and be obedient to God. Faith is not static. It causes us to want to learn more about God and grow in him. An important part of faith is this growing process.

“Clouds and thick darkness surround him.” - Psalm 97:2a I found myself backed up in the express checkout lane at the grocery store. The person at the head of the line had two or three orders in her cart with each pushing the 20-item limit. On top of that, she was clipping coupons. It's funny (or maybe sad) that my righteous indignation kicks in strongest when I am the one being inconvenienced. I moved to a different line so I wouldn't stand there fuming and thinking badly about the person in front.

Bishop Mark Bartchak used an analogy of door keys and Scripture to deliver a Christmas message to Catholics in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese. One day while visiting his mother in an apartment building for older adults, he saw a man who was trying to deliver packages to the other man's mother-in-law, but he hadn't brought a key and his mother-in-law had difficulty hearing and didn't hear the intercom. “We are about to celebrate Christmas during a year of faith,” Bartchak said.

"If ye have the faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. " We all know a mustard seed is very, very small. What is Jesus saying here? If we have just a very little faith we can do great things? I have thought a lot about this passage of Scripture. I don't pretend to understand it fully. I do know, however, I have not moved any mountains lately. Jesus was speaking in poetic language when he said this.